Montessori Blue Series for Phonetic Reading and Consonant Blends
Help children move confidently from simple phonetic reading into more complex words with this complete Montessori Blue Series. Designed as the next step after the Pink Series, the Blue Series introduces words containing consonant blends, special phonetic spelling patterns, longer phonetic constructions, compound words, and progressively more advanced reading exercises.
The sequence moves from concrete objects to pictures, picture sheets, word lists, detached sentences, and finally longer sentences without picture support. This carefully structured progression allows children to strengthen decoding skills while gradually building fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and reading confidence.
With clearly organized materials and an included presentation guide, parents and educators can introduce the activities in a logical Montessori-inspired sequence without having to guess the correct order of presentation.
What's Included in the Blue Series Core Set
- Object Boxes 1–6: 36 real miniature objects + 36 matching word cards
- Picture Boxes 1–6: 36 picture cards + 36 matching word cards
- Picture Sheets 1–4: 24 images total + card storage envelope
- 40 Word Lists
- 20 Detached Sentence Strips with picture matching
- 20 Long Sentence Strips without pictures for advanced sentence reading
- Full Setup & Presentation Guide
Please Note: Trays are not included in the core set. Trays shown in photographs are presentation examples and are available separately as an optional add-on listing.
A Progressive Reading Sequence After the Pink Series
The Blue Series is designed for children who have developed confidence reading simple Pink Series CVC words and are ready for the next stage of phonetic reading.
The included presentation guide follows this recommended progression:
- Object Boxes
- Picture Boxes
- Picture Sheets
- Word Lists
- Detached Sentences with Picture Matching
- Long Sentences without Picture Support
This sequence gradually reduces concrete and visual support while increasing the amount of independent reading required from the child.
Blue Series Object Boxes 1–6
The six object boxes contain 36 real miniature objects and 36 corresponding word cards. Children read the phonetic word cards and match them to the correct objects, allowing reading to remain concrete and hands-on during the first stage of Blue Series work.
Using real miniature objects encourages interest, vocabulary development, visual discrimination, and self-directed reading practice while helping children connect written language with something tangible.
Blue Series Picture Boxes 1–6
After working successfully with objects, children progress to the six picture boxes. The set includes 36 picture cards and 36 matching word cards.
Children read each word and match it to the correct picture. This removes the concrete object while still providing visual support, helping the child move gradually toward more abstract reading.
Picture Sheets 1–4
The four picture sheets include 24 images in total and provide another step toward independent reading. Children can read corresponding word cards and match them to images on the sheets.
A storage envelope is included for keeping the associated cards organized when the activity is not in use.
40 Blue Series Word Lists
The set includes 40 word lists designed to provide repeated practice with the phonetic patterns introduced throughout the Blue Series.
Word-list reading helps children move beyond individual matching activities and practice decoding multiple words consecutively, supporting smoother reading, pattern recognition, and increased phonetic fluency.
Detached Sentences with Picture Matching
The set includes 20 detached sentence strips with picture matching. Children read each sentence, understand its meaning, and match it to the corresponding picture.
This activity moves the child beyond isolated words and introduces reading for meaning. The picture provides a visual way for the child to demonstrate comprehension after reading the sentence.
Long Sentence Reading Without Pictures
The final stage includes 20 sentence strips without pictures. These longer sentences provide more advanced reading practice without visual clues, encouraging children to rely on decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
This stage helps prepare children for increasingly independent reading.
Phonics Skills Covered
Beginning Consonant Blends
bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr, sk, sm, sc, sn, sp, sw, tw, dw, scr, spr, str
Ending Consonant Blends
nd, nt, mp, sk, st, ft
Special Phonetic Patterns
- CK Rule
- Floss Rule: double consonants ll, ff, ss, zz
- Advanced mixed phonetic words
- Compound words
Skills Developed
- Phonetic decoding
- Consonant blend recognition
- Reading longer phonetic words
- Word-pattern recognition
- Reading fluency
- Vocabulary development
- Object-to-word association
- Picture-to-word association
- Sentence reading
- Reading comprehension
- Independent reading
- Concentration and visual discrimination
Durable PVC Cards Designed for Repeated Use
All printed card components in this set are made from durable PVC plastic, including the word cards, picture cards, word lists, sentence strips, and matching materials.
The smooth, sturdy PVC format is designed for repeated hands-on use and regular handling, making the materials well suited for Montessori classrooms, homeschool environments, reading tutoring spaces, and early learning programs.
Unlike traditional paper cards, the PVC cards are made to be more durable for ongoing classroom use and can support repeated presentations over the years with proper care.
Materials
- Cards: Durable PVC plastic
- Miniature Objects: Resin, plastic & wood
- Storage Boxes: Plastic
- Presentation Trays: Not included; available separately
Recommended Age & Readiness
- Recommended Age: Approximately 4.5+ years
- Reading Level: Post Pink Series
- Recommended Prerequisite: Child is comfortable decoding simple phonetic CVC words
Age recommendations are approximate. Readiness and prior phonics experience are more important than chronological age when introducing the Blue Series.
Perfect For
- Montessori Casa classrooms
- Montessori language shelves
- Homeschool families
- Preschool and kindergarten reading instruction
- Early elementary phonics intervention
- Reading tutors
- Literacy centers
- Children progressing beyond CVC words
- Hands-on phonics and reading practice
Shelf-Ready and Easy to Present
The Blue Series is organized and clearly labeled to make classroom or homeschool setup straightforward. The included presentation guide explains the recommended order of activities, allowing educators and families to introduce the materials progressively rather than presenting everything at once.
This makes it easier to create an organized Montessori language shelf and follow the child from concrete object reading through increasingly independent sentence reading.